“I don’t need to worry about identity theft because no one wants to be me.” ~ Josie Fleschute

Approximately 15 million United States residents have their identities used fraudulently each year with financial losses totalling upwards of $50 billion. On a case-by-case basis, that means approximately 7% of all adults have their identities misused with each instance resulting in approximately $3,500 in losses. ~ IdentityTheft.info

From credit card numbers and ATM PINs, to home addresses and more, every checkout can leave your personal information vulnerable. Consider these actions so you can shop smart and help keep your identity safe this holiday season:

Shopping In-Store

Be aware of your surroundings and protectpersonal space at the ATM and registers.

Be sure your anti-virus software is installedproperly and up-to-date.

Inspect ATMs and point of sale terminalsand look for tampering before swiping cards.

Shop with retailers you trust and who havepositive Better Business Bureau ratings.

Keep cards in sight when paying to deterdishonest cashiers.

Shopping Online

Avoid links and only visit shopping sites bydirectly typing in their website address.

I use and recommend Lifelock. They can help protect you against more than just credit fraud, we alert you whenever we detect your personal information being used to apply for wireless services, retail credit, utilities, and mortgage loans within our extensive network. If you become a victim of identity theft while you are a LifeLock member we will spend up to $1 million to hire experts, lawyers, investigators, consultants and whoever else it takes to help your recovery.

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About Gandalfe

Just an itinerant saxophonist trying to find life between the changes. I have retired from the Corps of Engineers and Microsoft. I am an admin on the Woodwind Forum, run the Microsoft Jumpin' Jive Orchestra, and enjoy time with family and friends.